A Certificate of Origin is a non-preferential document stating where the goods you are shipping were grown, manufactured or created. It’s used to confirm that the origin of the goods being shipped overseas can enter a country and are helpful to your end customer should they wish to sell your goods to their customers. Applying is straightforward and done online.

You’ll need access to the authorised Business West/Bristol Chamber of Commerce eCert platform. eCert is an online portal where you can complete the certificate, upload your supporting documents and then submit your application to the Chamber for processing.

Setting up an account is free and is quick and easy to do.

Once your eCert account is approved, you are ready to apply for your certificate.

Check out our helpful checklist before you start.

You’ll be asked to upload:

• Commercial invoice – please note that a “proforma invoice” isn’t acceptable, and if there are any free-of-charge items (maybe you are sending free samples), then you must add a value for customs. Uploading your invoice is mandatory to support your application.
• Supporting foreign origin evidence (if relevant).
• Packing list – optional but helpful to confirm the weight of the shipment and any packaging, etc.
• Shipping document – a bill of lading or waybill is optional but useful to check any container or seal numbers you may have listed on your Certificate of Origin (COO).

Once you have submitted your application, the Chamber checks:

• All the information entered onto the Certificate of Origin application matches your invoice and other supporting documents.
• The declared origin – if your goods are of UK origin, then you don’t need to provide evidence as part of the application. Should your goods be of foreign origin, we will need to see evidence such as a manufacturer declaration, supplier's declaration, or an invoice from the manufacturer.
• The supporting documents – this will be an invoice (this is mandatory), a packing list or shipping document. Details on these documents are checked against what you have entered onto the COO.

If anything needs amending on the submitted COO, the application will be rejected by the Chamber so you can update the details or amend anything that doesn’t match your supporting documents. 

Once approved, your Certificate of Origin will be ready for you and a confirmation email is sent.

Express application:

This type of application is digitally stamped by the Chamber and you print it yourself from your eCert account.

You need a colour printer if you choose this option. An express application has the advantage of being a quicker process as you aren’t waiting for an original document to arrive by post.

Standard application:

Once approved, the Chamber will stamp a hard copy of the Certificate and post it back to you by the delivery method you have chosen.

If you have asked for an invoice or other supporting document to be stamped by the Chamber, then the express and standard options work in the same way as outlined above.

Turnaround:

In most cases, if everything is correct, Certificates of Origin can be processed the same day if received by 12pm.

An Arab Certificate of Origin is used for shipments going to Middle Eastern countries and performs the same function as a UK COO.  It’s a non-preferential document.

So why use it?

The use of an Arab Certificate of Origin is not mandatory in the Middle East; however, many Middle Eastern customers require them. Check with your customer to see what they need for their specific products and customs entry requirements.

If you apply for an Arab Certificate of Origin, it will be certified by the Bristol Chamber and the Arab British Chamber of Commerce on an original Arab certificate. As it is rarely done digitally, you need to factor in extra time for this process. Normally it is 7-10 days from application.

Legalisation

For some Arab countries, your Arab Certificate of Origin and supporting invoice can be legalised as well as certified. Check with your customer if this is a requirement.  Each country has different rules on legalisation, so contact our team for advice and a quote for this service, including expected timescales.

It’s worth noting these top tips:

• An Arab certificate is not mandatory
• Requirements vary by country and customer
• Always check what your buyer or destination country specifically requests/requires
• Build in extra time should you need an Arab Certificate of Origin, particularly if you need it legalised
• You can apply for them via eCert in the same way as a UK COO

A UK EUR1 certificate performs a different function to a Certificate of Origin. The main differences are:

• It is a “preferential” origin document, which means that it can reduce or remove import duty
• It is used where the UK has a Free Trade Agreement in place with the destination country
• The goods must be of UK origin and meet the product-specific rules outlined in the relevant Free Trade Agreement
• The shipment must go direct from the UK to the final destination. It can’t be shipped from outside the UK or clear customs before it reaches the destination country

Mixed shipments – non-preferential and preferential goods

If you are shipping goods overseas that are both UK preferential origin and foreign origin, you can still apply for an EUR1. Follow the guidance below:

• Describe only the UK preferential origin goods on the EUR1. You may be unable to avoid showing non-originating goods on the invoices. If so, mark the invoice (for example, with an asterisk or a star) to show which are non-originating. Then add the following statement in box 8 immediately below the description of the goods: “Goods marked with a star on the invoice are non-originating and are not covered by this certificate EUR1”.
• Part contents only: this statement should appear in box 8 of the EUR1, if both originating and non-originating goods are packed together.
• Gross weight: only show the gross weight of the preferential goods on the EUR1. The full gross weight can be shown but may not be accepted by customs overseas. If you are showing the total gross weight of both originating and non-originating goods on the EUR1 form, the Chamber will ask you to confirm that you will not hold them responsible for rejection of the EUR1 on the grounds of weight discrepancy.

Top tip: Not all countries use EUR1 forms to claim preference as part of their trade agreement, and not all goods qualify for zero or reduced tariffs, so it’s important to check before applying.

If you are not sure how a Free Trade Agreement can help your business, then check out our Free Trade Agreement Utilisation service.

You apply for a UK EUR1 via your account on the eCert platform in the same way as a UK Certificate of Origin.

The process of completing the UK EUR1 form is very similar to a COO. There are slight differences to what is required to support the EUR1:

• Commercial invoice – this is NOT mandatory for an EUR1, but if you don’t upload an invoice, then we will need another commercial document so we can check the details match the EUR1 and are correct.
• Supporting foreign origin evidence – an EUR1 is a UK origin only form so no evidence is required.
• Packing list – optional but helpful to confirm the weight of the shipment and any packaging etc.
• Shipping document – a bill of lading or waybill is often uploaded as proof of shipment, and is also useful to check any container or seal numbers you may have listed on your EUR1.

Once the Chamber has approved the application, it must be printed out on a blank EUR1 form. It can’t be printed on plain paper like a COO. If you choose an express option, you will need to have the blank EUR1 forms in your office.

Most customers, apart from those who do a high volume of applications, ask the Chamber to print the EUR1 for them as a standard application. This is then posted to them by their chosen delivery method.

Remember, some countries require an original signature from both the applicant (you) and the approver (the Chamber) on the EUR1. Please contact us if you need help.

Find out more about EUR1s and use our handy application checklist

 The price varies depending on whether you are a member of Business West Chambers of Commerce and whether you choose an express or standard application. Refer to our price list for more details.

Getting a Certificate of Origin or EUR1 as proof of origin will help you avoid:

• Customs delays
• Rejected shipments
• Financial penalties
• Loss of customer trust

Getting it right first time saves time, cost, and hassle - especially as export volumes grow. Check out our “Preferential origin red flags quick guide”, which will help you avoid the pitfalls!

Our experienced International Trade documentation team supports exporters every day with:

• UK Certificates of Origin
• Arab Certificates of Origin and Legalisation
• EUR1s and preference
• Origin guidance and checks

Applications are submitted online via our online application platform, eCert, making the process quick and straightforward.